Page 20 of Santa’s Lawyer

The sustained chord from the piano was stretched to its breaking point. The glittering atmosphere throbbed in time with her heartbeat.

“Your test—I can’t interfere,” he said, running his fingertips along her brow, his other hand coming to rest on the middle of her back.

Avery brushed her mouth against his other cheek.

“This is going to make everything harder,” Louis warned, placing a hand under her chin and tilting her head up toward him.

Avery licked her lips.

“Oh, sod it,” he declared.

With revelatory force, he wrapped one arm around her waist, diving his other hand into her hair to cradle her head, dipping her backward, right as tinny, high-pitched music began to whine from Avery’s wrist. An 8-bit rendition of Here Comes Santa Claus was emanating from her bracelet.

“What’s going on?” she asked, mid-swoon.

“Biscuits! I was afraid they might—” Louis stood Avery back up, withdrew his hands, cleared his throat, and straightened his jacket. The piano quieted, and the floating books thumped down unceremoniously on the coffee table. “Apparently, it’s time for your interview with your potential future client.”

“I’m going to meet Santa?” Avery asked, bouncing on her toes. “Right now?”

Louis exhaled hard.

“Avery,” he said, taking hold of her wrists and looking into her eyes. “You are full of Christmas Magic. I’ve never met anyone like you before in all my lifetimes.”

“Lifetimes?” she asked.

He forged ahead. “You are ready. You have been training for this moment your whole life. You know Christmas. You are Christmas. You know the answers. Do not let anyone make you doubt that. Do you understand?”

“Louis, what’s wrong?” she asked, growing concerned. “What’s going on?”

The music from Avery’s bracelet grew louder.

“I have to go. I’m terribly sorry,” he said, backing up toward the door. “Someone will be here to retrieve you shortly.”

CHAPTER SIX

THE NORTH POLE

Her head was swimming. The most romantic, magical moment of her life was just cut short. But there was no time to consider what had almost transpired, because she was about to go meet Santa. Not a strip mall representative. The real deal. For a job interview.

Avery went to a nearby mirror to inspect herself in advance of her meeting, shaking her head and marveling at how just the day before yesterday she was shopping for candles. And now here she was. Lifting her wrist to her mouth, she remembered that she didn’t need to use her bracelet—she could simply do magical things. She willed herself to wear a new suit which instantly materialized: a dark green silk double-breasted jacket with gold buttons over a gold camisole, matching pants, and darker green velvet pumps. She magically pinned her hair back in vintage victory rolls with a few glittery strands of tinsel wound through them, and slid her pen into the pocket on the inside of her blazer.

Avery was spritzing herself with a bit of her custom perfume for luck as Ander and Gregory arrived at the library.

“Good day, Ms. Hoarfrost!” Ander announced as he opened the bookcase door. “We’re here to escort you to—”

“Well, well, well, would you look at that!” Gregory exclaimed, interrupting Ander and launching himself across the floor, landing with a thud a few feet from Avery. “She’s a lovely jubbly, ain’t she, Andy?” he asked. Gregory pushed himself up by his beak and waddled around her in a circle, flapping his fins. “And that smell! You been bakin’ biscuits in here, love?”

Avery twirled around to follow Gregory’s journey.

“A scent I created last night,” she said modestly. “Do you like it?”

“Oh, you smell like a right treat, dear. That explains the look on ol’ Louis’ face in the hallway, don’t it, Andy?”

She blushed and tried to hide her victorious smile.

“That’s quite enough, Gregory. Ms. Hoarfrost has somewhere to be. Right this way, if you please.” Ander gestured toward the exit.

Avery paused by the coffee table and picked up a small, gift-wrapped box. She’d made it the night before: a customary North Pole greeting gift for Santa. She wondered what gift Santa, the greatest gift-giver of all time, would bring her upon their first meeting. He’d be impossible to match. But she was proud of what she’d come up with.